[The relationship between serum asymmetric dimethylarginine and ABCD2 score in transient ischemic attack patients]

To investigate relationships between serum asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) and transient ischemic attack (TIA).

Forty healthy controls and 40 patients with TIA were enrolled in the present study. ABCD2 score was used to evaluate risk for future stroke. Serum ADMA levels were measured with ELISA analysis.

Serum level of ADMA was higher in TIA group than that in control group [(0.52 ± 0.06) mmol/L vs (0.23 ± 0.04) mmol/L, P < 0.05]. In TIA subgroup, 19 cases (47.5%) developed cerebral infarction and 23 cases (57.5%) had no stroke history. There is positive correlation between serum ADMA levels and ABCD2 score in both cerebral infarction subjects (r = 0.560, P = 0.013), and no stroke history cases(r = 0.602, P = 0.002). TIA subjects were, then, divided in to two groups based on ABCD2 score as 0-3 group and ≥ 4 group. In general linear model analysis, ADMA level was associated with ABCD2 score (F = 4.39, P = 0.043) after adjusted for age and gender. This situation hold true for subjects within cerebral infarction group (F = 7.327, P = 0.017) or non-previous stroke group(F = 12.300, P = 0.002) . No association could be found between ADMA level and ABCD2 score grouping in subjects with non-infarct (F = 0.523, P = 0.675) or stroke history (F = 0.274, P = 0.609).

Elevated ADMA is associated with occurrence of TIA. Endothelial dysfunction may play an important role in the pathogenesis of TIA.